http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com Laughter and Libertarianism from the Heartland Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:04:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I suspect that each of us has a number of activities which we secretly feel are not valid if they are easy. The results of our labors are valuable only if producing them is difficult, painful, or otherwise mildly unpleasant. Here's one of mine. This is the way Christmas shopping ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/12/23/shopping-for-holiday-guilt/ Several nights ago, having fallen asleep trying to watch television, I was awakened by a raucous commercial. A young, attractive couple had rushed into a pharmacy frantically looking for a specific sort of condom. They were breathlessly demanding that the pharmacist tell them where it was so that ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/11/04/am-i-missing-something-here/ October 8, 2009 To the Editor Topeka Capital-Journal I'd like to comment on Don Baldwin's letter in the October 8 issue of the Topeka Capital-Journal. While there is merit in much of what Mr. Baldwin says, he is mistaken on one important point. He states that the "Constitution clearly states that the ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/10/11/letter-to-the-editor/ I have figured it out. I am NOT overweight! I have been using a shampoo that claims it will provide "more body." Now, when I rinse my hair in the shower, the shampoo flows down all over me, and I am convinced that it is just living up to ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/09/26/not-my-fault/ In 2007, a tornado wiped out Greensburg, Kansas. This past Labor Day weekend, more than 20 Greensburg residents were part of a team helping to rebuild a Boy Scout camp in Little Sioux, Iowa, that had been damaged by a tornado this past June. Nice. http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/09/10/105/ Here is my article for the July-August issue of TK Magazine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Okay, okay, this is not the biggest problem facing our nation and our world right now. It is, however, something I’ve been wondering about for a while. Whatever are we going to call the year that begins next January? Approaching the ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/09/10/naming-the-years/ Here is my article for the May-June 2009 issue of TK Magazine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A few minutes ago, as I sat down to write my column for this month's issue of TK Magazine, the phone rang. Well, the subject I had in mind will just have to wait for the next issue, because now ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/09/07/uncharitable-charities/  Here is my article from the March - April issue of TK Magazine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ April is coming. Income Tax. Oh, goody.   As a dedicated Libertarian I have many complaints about the IRS and the Income Tax, and its intrinsic invasiveness is right up there at the top of my list. Like the frog ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/09/07/89/ My article for the January-February issue of TK Magazine ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I have very recently begun my 66th year. A 65th birthday has great societal significance in our culture. I guess I am officially an elder now.   There is, apparently, a great data base of people’s birthdays out there. I don’t know where it ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2009/01/03/random-thoughts-on-aging/ The word “solstice” comes from the Latin sol, sun, and sistere, to stand. It is the time when the sun appears to stand still for a day or two in its relentless pacing from north to south and back again, the time when it pauses before turning to retrace ... http://www.joyfulcynicblog.com/index.php/2008/12/22/winter-solstice-greetings/